It will be a fairy tale ending to a brilliant racing career should the powerful stayer Ring The Bell conclude his outstanding career by achieving the Group 1 double, double by winning Friday’s $27,465 Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers Cup, which is a Group 1 race that Ring The Bell strongly won last year.
Pictured: Ring The Bell delivering his strong Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers Cup heat win – pic Dave Robbie
“Win, lose or draw – Ring The Bell will be retired following the Stayers Cup,” advised his GRNZ Hall of Fame trainer Ray Adcock. “Disco (kennel name) doesn’t owe anyone anything and he deserves his retirement,” added Adcock about the ageless 4.7 year old staying athlete.
Two 732m heats held last Thursday decided the final field for New Zealand Stayers Cup. The form coming out of those heats suggests that a replay of the recent $88,000 Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar is a distinct possibility. Those heats saw empathic wins being delivered by the first two Silver Collar finishers.
Ring The Bell ($2.40, TAB Final Field, option 991) defied his aging paws when he pinged away from the eight trap to set up the pace when cutting out his first 295m sectional in a quick 17.13s. That is absolutely flying for the stayers. He maintained his power packed gallop to easily take out the heat in a handy 43.20s, just outside his 43.18s winning time from last year.
Ring The Bell will exit from trap six on Friday. “Hopefully he can jump away like that again. You wouldn’t know he had a 732m last week – he’s all set get the job done again,” confirmed Adcock about his charges final race day assignment.
Dusty Gambler ($3) really threw down the gauntlet to Ring The Bell in the Silver Collar when he led him during the mid-stages prior to yielding to him during the run home. He wore the pink racing vest on that occasion and his trainer Karen Walsh will be placing the same rug onto this ultra consistent stayer for this decider after he also ripped through his first 295m sectional in 17.12s.
His mid race sectional was strong, however he got the wobbles slightly during the run home finishing up with an overall heat time of 43.41s. Improvement can be expected from him following his track debut outing. “Dusty only knows one way to race – he gets out there and chases as hard as he can for as long as he can. I don’t expect him to do anything different on Friday. He normally improves after his look at a new track and I expect him to do likewise again. He’s all set to go on Friday,” advised Walsh.
The Craig Roberts prepared Avenger Bale ($5) adds the intrigue factor to this final after he boldly chased home Ring The Bell in his heat 6.5 lengths astern. He owns serious early pace and drawing trap two says he can be major contender for a very long way here even though his run home time won’t be as strong as the two heat winners. “I’m rapt with his draw. I thought he was massive in his heat, especially as he didn’t get the lead, therefore to hang in there like that over 732m was real gutsy. I reckon he’ll improve three or four lengths after that effort.
“I feel if he leads early and cuts out the first 295m sectional in say around 17.10/12s then that’ll be good enough to lead with a lap to run. He’ll need a wee buffer on the others going down the back and he can hang on if he does (lead). He’s in top condition and I’m very happy with him going into the final,” confirmed Roberts.
Goldstar Ashton ($41) provides his conditioners Steve and Bonnie Evans with another Group 1 finalist. He held the rail throughout in his heat, albeit a margin behind the freewheeling Ring The Bell, winding up 9.75 lengths astern of him. He is required to move out to the seven trap for this assignment.
“Yes, his draw is far from ideal for him – he’ll be looking for some early luck from out there. He’s still learning the staying game so we’re pleased to be in the final. I reckon he’ll develop into a nice stayer over the next six or so months. I was pleased with the way he stuck it out in his heat. He’s had a nice quiet week and he’s all ready to go,” advised Steve Evans.
Dusty Gambler delivering his Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers Cup heat win; finalists Avenger Bale and Goldstar Ashton – pics Dave Robbie
The Dave and Jean Fahey kennels always commands respect when it comes to Group 1 finals and they have qualified four finalists. The recent Duke Of Edinburgh Silver Collar finalist Translator ($6) has been there and done that over this 732m trip and drawing the ace trap has greatly enhanced this noted railer’s stake claims. She pressed on stoutly during the run home to claim her 3.25 length heat third behind Dusty Gambler. “She isn’t racing quite as good as she was before the Silver Collar, although her draw is definitely great for her,” said Dave Fahey.
Opawa Tab ($14) was real brave when delivering her 2.5 length heat second to Dusty Gambler when checking out an extreme race distance for the first time, after having placed in her prior 645m staying debut. She stalked the pace making winner for every stride in her heat. “That was very nice first up race by her over 732m – very happy with that. She’s shaping up as a promising stayer and she will be improved after that (heat run),” added Fahey.
A similar encouraging comment can be made for her kennelmate Opawa Abby Joy ($14), who boldly kicked on from a midfield position to book her place in this field when she wound up 10.75 lengths astern of Ring The Bell when she also stepped up for her first taste of 732m racing. Prior to that she took out a 645m event in 38.36s. “She has a strong run home and she is another who is showing us promise as a future stayer. I would like to see her handier to the early pace,” suggested Fahey.
Pirate’s Curse ($31) is exactly that – he’s a complete enigma, as he owns immense power. It’s his refusal to race in tight quarters in a field that is the utter frustration for his connections. However in saying that he does appeal as a stayer who can inject value into the minor end of the race combo’s in this event. “He actually jumped better in his heat. On raw ability he has what it takes to be a decent stayer – he was the first to the lure by a margin in his heat. I feel he races better at Addington,” was Fahey’s comment, who added, “All of our stayers pulled up great after their heats.”
The Dave and Jean Fahey trained Christchurch Casino New Zealand Stayers Cup finalists (from left): Translator; Opawa Tab, Opawa Abby Joy; Pirate’s Curse - pics supplied by Dave Robbie – drobbie91@gmail.com – 021 607 869 for all your South Island race photos
The versatile greyhound Southern Lights ($31) is the first reserve for his southern trainer Roy Hamilton. He was involved in the chase after Dusty Gambler and it was only during the run home when he peaked while having his look at an extreme race distance.
The second reserve is another Fahey trained stayer in Vicki Keeping ($31). She occupied the rear group throughout after going wide over the early stages from where she plugged into sixth and she made the bench here after the fifth placed Trip To Eden was vetted out of the final. She is a proven stayer who is much better over the longer trips that what her heat effort would indicate.
By Peter Fenemor
